Stillman convocation begins semester with ‘timely’ message

Stillman President Ernest McNealey welcomes students and faculty during the Stillman spring convocation at the school in Tuscaloosa on Thursday.

Dusty Compton | Tuscaloosa News

By Jason MortonStaff Writer

Published: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 4:59 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, January 24, 2013 at 4:59 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | For the nearly 400 students and guests who attended Thursday’s convocation at Stillman College, the start of 2013’s spring semester began with a simple message.

Learn how to tell time.

The lesson appeared to have two meanings, as Stillman President Ernest McNealey used it in its most obvious form to gently chide those who arrived late for the 11 a.m. ceremony.

But it was Sylvester Hester, a local automotive industry executive and the spring convocation keynote speaker, who gave the message a deeper meaning.

“The first thing you need to do is learn how to tell time,” Hester said, noting that he did not mean to merely understand the clock.

Instead, his intention was to understand time in the biblical sense, and he referred to the book of Ecclesiastes to explain.

“There’s a time and a season for everything under the sun,” Hester said. “Young people, I sat where you sit (now) just a few years ago and I did not know how to tell time properly.”

Hester, who serves as president of Key Logistics Solutions and vice president of Global Automotive Alliance, shared a story of how he spent the first years of his college education partying, hanging out and, in general, failing to take the education side of things seriously.

The fallacy of this approach was made evident, he said, four years after becoming the first of his family to enroll in college. He said he came home to a surprise graduation party thrown by his parents even though he hadn’t yet graduated.

On a corner table, beside photos of Hester through the years, was a photo of a college degree with his name written on a piece of tape covering the actual recipient.

Hester said a family friend noticed the tape and pulled it off, loudly asking those assembled who the name underneath belonged to.

He told those gathered in the Birthright Auditorium that he turned and saw his family with their arms extended toward him and heads bowed in prayer.

“You have people who are counting on you to do the right thing — to come here and learn how to tell time,” Hester said. “We are here by God’s grace. And where much is given, much is required.”

He also urged the Stillman students to immediately encourage the younger members of their family to understand the importance of education, to “focus on vision, not sight,” he said, and to trust in faith to lead them to whichever profession they want to pursue.

“We all challenge you to be the best you can be,” Hester said. “Learn to tell time, and now it’s time to work.”

While the ceremony was centered on Hester’s message, others also addressed the gathering of students, faculty and visitors.

Peter Millet, Stillman’s provost and vice president for academic affairs, kept with the “telling time” theme, although he never used that exact phrase.

Rather, he told the students that merely getting by will never be enough.

“Don’t do the bare minimum. Do your best at all times,” Millet said. “Work first and play later.”

Stillman Student Government Association President Shalyn Smith reminded the seniors in attendance that their college careers had just 106 days remaining.

“It’s springtime — the time for growth,” Smith said before addressing the teachers and professors. “(You have) 106 more days to plant one more seed in some of the smartest and brightest people you’ll ever meet.”

<p>TUSCALOOSA | For the nearly 400 students and guests who attended Thursday's convocation at Stillman College, the start of 2013's spring semester began with a simple message.</p><p>Learn how to tell time.</p><p>The lesson appeared to have two meanings, as Stillman President Ernest McNealey used it in its most obvious form to gently chide those who arrived late for the 11 a.m. ceremony.</p><p>But it was Sylvester Hester, a local automotive industry executive and the spring convocation keynote speaker, who gave the message a deeper meaning.</p><p>“The first thing you need to do is learn how to tell time,” Hester said, noting that he did not mean to merely understand the clock.</p><p>Instead, his intention was to understand time in the biblical sense, and he referred to the book of Ecclesiastes to explain.</p><p>“There's a time and a season for everything under the sun,” Hester said. “Young people, I sat where you sit (now) just a few years ago and I did not know how to tell time properly.”</p><p>Hester, who serves as president of Key Logistics Solutions and vice president of Global Automotive Alliance, shared a story of how he spent the first years of his college education partying, hanging out and, in general, failing to take the education side of things seriously.</p><p>The fallacy of this approach was made evident, he said, four years after becoming the first of his family to enroll in college. He said he came home to a surprise graduation party thrown by his parents even though he hadn't yet graduated.</p><p>On a corner table, beside photos of Hester through the years, was a photo of a college degree with his name written on a piece of tape covering the actual recipient.</p><p>Hester said a family friend noticed the tape and pulled it off, loudly asking those assembled who the name underneath belonged to.</p><p>He told those gathered in the Birthright Auditorium that he turned and saw his family with their arms extended toward him and heads bowed in prayer.</p><p>“You have people who are counting on you to do the right thing — to come here and learn how to tell time,” Hester said. “We are here by God's grace. And where much is given, much is required.”</p><p>He also urged the Stillman students to immediately encourage the younger members of their family to understand the importance of education, to “focus on vision, not sight,” he said, and to trust in faith to lead them to whichever profession they want to pursue.</p><p>“We all challenge you to be the best you can be,” Hester said. “Learn to tell time, and now it's time to work.”</p><p>While the ceremony was centered on Hester's message, others also addressed the gathering of students, faculty and visitors.</p><p>Peter Millet, Stillman's provost and vice president for academic affairs, kept with the “telling time” theme, although he never used that exact phrase.</p><p>Rather, he told the students that merely getting by will never be enough.</p><p>“Don't do the bare minimum. Do your best at all times,” Millet said. “Work first and play later.”</p><p>Stillman Student Government Association President Shalyn Smith reminded the seniors in attendance that their college careers had just 106 days remaining.</p><p>“It's springtime — the time for growth,” Smith said before addressing the teachers and professors. “(You have) 106 more days to plant one more seed in some of the smartest and brightest people you'll ever meet.”</p><p><i>Reach Jason Morton at jason.morton@tuscaloosanews.com or 205-722-0200.</i></p>